An Act to ensure pay parity for county sheriffs' correction officers and jail officers

This bill requires Massachusetts county sheriffs' offices to reclassify correction and jail officers into job titles matching the state Department of Correction's structure (Correction Officer I/II/III and Jail Officer I/II/III). It mandates that these officers' base salaries gradually equalize with Department of Correction rates over three fiscal years through annual increases. During this three-year period, sheriffs are exempt from negotiating base pay with unions under labor law but must still honor existing collective bargaining agreements. The bill directly affects approximately 1,200 correction and jail officers across 14 county sheriff offices. After the three years, normal labor negotiations for base salaries resume.